Forest Service Searches for Missing Off-Duty CA Wildland FF
By Brian Rokos
Source San Bernardino County Sun, Calif.
On a day when the U.S. Forest Service memorialized fallen Big Bear Hotshot Charles Morton, authorities announced that another Big Bear Hotshot, Carlos Alexander Baltazar, was missing.
Baltazar, 35, was reported missing by family members on Sept. 24, four days after his car was found abandoned near Highway 18 and Delta Way, northeast of Big Bear Lake. His backpack was found 75 yards away, the San Bernardino County Sheriff’s Department said.
That area is not near the El Dorado fire, which Morton was battling when he died Sept. 17.
Baltazar was not on duty at the time of his disappearance, a news release said.
Bloodhounds tracked Baltazar’s scent but eventually lost it. K9s and deputies are continuing the search.
Baltazar is described as a Hispanic man, 5-foot-9 and 175 pounds who is bald and has brown eyes.
Investigators ask anyone with information on his whereabouts to call 760-956-5001.
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